Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-06

low
Good morning. Miss - he repeated, as
she hesitated, little dazed.
"bond-Rachel Bonds my name Good
morning, SIR She answered, putting out her
hand.
As he took il he said: II want to make an
abjeet apology We are i'll prepared to en-
terrain a lady here, and no one knew Of your
coming But we certainly intended to miti-
gate IN some degree the desolation Of the
room to which you were conducted left
you for the purpose of seeing what the store
room contained that would contribute a trife
toward Transforming it into naldens
bower
"Cinderella's fairy godmother couldn't have
made the transformation with that room,
she said, with little shrug OF despair
Probably not-probably not--and lay no
claim To- even the least Of the powers exercised
by the old lady with the wand But allow
no man t. surpass me in the matter Of good
intentions. That IS luxury Of which the
poorest Of us can afford an abundance, ard ]
viii not deny myself anything that is SO
cheap"
Rachel was begriled into smiling at his
merry eynicism
"Allusions TO the pavement in the unmen-
tionable place are barred in this connection .
he continued gayly. "On my way to carry
cut these good intentions-at some one else's
expense, remember, all the tinle-I was called
70 the bedside OF dying man, and detained
there some time. When at last returned TO
your ROOM Judged that you were fast asleep,
and decided not to disturb YOU
II think you would have found it difficult
matter 70 have reused me. ! had sunk on the
cot aud was sleeping the sleep OFF
The just" interposed Dr. Denslow, gal
lantly
No of the fatigu4d.
We'll, scientific truth compels me to say
that fatigue is a surer and stronger sedative
than a clear conscience even. / know, for /
have occasionally tried a clear conscience
only by way Of experiment, you know, he
added, epologetically.
Well, whatever the cause was sleeping
as though on downy beds of ease"
"Then my mind is lightened Of a mountain
load Of responsibility for having made you
pass miserable night. But let's go into
breakfast | am opposed to doing anything
on an empty stomach-even to holding a
pleasant conversation It invites malaria,
and malaria brings number Of disagreeable
sensations which people mistake for repent
anee, remorse, religious awakening, and SO
on. according to their mental idiosyncrasies
and the state of their digestion"
The breakfast did not help remove tho UNI
pleasant impressions already made upon her
mind. The cloth that covered tho coarse
planks OF the table was Enthusiastically we'll
worn sheet. Tin cups and platters made
humble substitution for china, ana were APP
propriately accompanied by cast iron knives
and two-tned forks
Rachels appetite had seemed sufficient for
almost any food but she confined her break
fast to two or three crackers of hard bread
and il few sups Of coffee
As they rose from the table the doctor in
formed her that he and stho stewards were
about to make their morning round Of the
wards, and that she had better accompany
them She went along without a word.
They walked slowly up and down the long
aislcs behind the doctor, Who stopped before
each COT. and closely examined its occupants
tongue pulse and other indicators IF his con-
dition, and gave prescriptions, which the
steward wrote down, as to medicine and
food What was better stin were his words
OF sympathy for the very i'll and Of CHEEKY
encouragement Tor the conyalescent, which
he bestowed upon every one.
Rachel dreaded at each step lest the next
bring her face to face with some horrible
task which She would be expected to under,
take. But She doctor, with his usual tact,
was almost imperceptibly inauctlng her into
her duties
would Miss Bond kindly shake this
powder into that cup Of water and give it to
that boy@
She did 50, and was rewarded by the re
cipient's grateful look as he said;
IT don't seernaat all nasty when yen give
it TO me.
Would she hand that one this bit Of mag
nesia for his heartburnf1
1t was young Irishman WHO received the
magnesa with gallant speech:
Faith, your white fingers have made it
swater than loaf sugar
Rachel colored deeply, ana those within
hearing laughed
At the next cot feverish boy tossed
YEARLY. Rachel noticed the uncomfortable
arrangement Of the folded blanket which did
duty as a pillow. She stepped quickly to the
head of the cot, toqk the blanket out, re-
folded il with 4 few delft, womanly motions,
and replaced it with a cool surface upper
most.
80, that IS SO good nlurmured the boy,
half unclosiug his eyes. ats just as mother
w0uld'ya done il y